The Art of Breathing
"Child, let me tell you one more time. If you don't feel comfortable practicing this visualization method, then don't practice it. Okay, I'm passing this on to you because I don't want it to be lost in my hands, but I can't let this thing ruin you."
Su Ziyang handed Master Luo Master Luo tobacco pouch with both hands and then lit it with a match.
"I know."
Su Ziyang nodded. If he were to practice this technique again, he would definitely ask Mr. Mengfei to protect him, since Mr. Mengfei was knowledgeable about everything and was his master.
"Master, you still haven't told me what you're best at."
Su Ziyang chuckled and sat down next to Master Luo.
"I've already demonstrated my specialty to you once: Qi Restriction."
"Hmm..." Su Ziyang nodded, the scene of Master Luo making the water flow change size at will, and even making the water flow stop, was still vivid in his mind.
"Master, since we already have Qi Restriction, why do we still need to learn talismans and incantations?"
Su Ziyang was curious. Wouldn't it be better to just blow on everyone who came, making everyone happy? It's too Visualization to draw talismans, chant incantations, and meditate.
"You silly kid, I just praised you. You're already acting all high and mighty again." Master Luo took a puff of his cigarette. "Talismans and incantations are ancestral methods. They borrow the power of past masters. Qi is your own. It's like fighting; finding helpers and being able to fight on your own are two different things."
Master Luo's analogy was vivid and apt, Su Ziyang's eyes lit up. "That's great, Master. 'To forge iron, one must be strong oneself.' I want to learn, Master."
Su Ziyang sat down next to Master Luo and his heart was instantly filled with joy.
"If you want to learn, I'll teach you. I'll teach you everything I know in these seven days."
Seeing Su Ziyang's enthusiasm for learning, Master Luo was genuinely happy.
"To learn Qi Restriction, you must first cultivate Qi. Once you are proficient in Qi cultivation, you will have power in your breath."
Master Luo squinted as he smoked, Su Ziyang listened intently, afraid of uttering a single word.
"The method of cultivating Qi requires choosing the right time; it should be practiced between midnight and noon. The other times are not suitable for practice. When practicing, one must not get angry, eat too much, swear, or drink alcohol."
Master Luo's taboo was quite interesting. Su Ziyang clicked his tongue. "You can't eat a full meal like this..."
"Eating until you're stuffed is bad for your circulation. Do you understand?"
Master Luo sometimes speaks in a refined and scholarly manner, but at other times he speaks very down-to-earth.
"I see."
Su Ziyang nodded quickly.
"When practicing breathing exercises, don't be too restricted by any posture. Just focus on what makes you comfortable. First, relax and inhale through your nose. Inhale as slowly as you can, the slower the better. Also, you shouldn't make any noise while inhaling; the quieter the better, ideally, there should be no sound at all."
Master Luo finished his cigarette, tapped his pipe, and continued, "After you've inhaled fully, stop. Silently count to 36, then exhale through your mouth as slowly as possible, and without making a sound. The quieter the better. Practice this, starting with 36, then increasing the time by counting in increments of 6. Eventually, if you can hold your breath for 1080 counts, you've mastered this method."
Su Ziyang initially thought there was something good, but upon hearing about this Qi cultivation method, he frowned.
"Hold your breath for 1080 counts... Are you sure you won't die?"
Su Ziyang asked tentatively.
"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm perfectly fine."
Master Luo coughed and glared at Su Ziyang.
Su Ziyang lowered his head dejectedly, then asked weakly, "Master, um, um... may I ask, how long will it take to reach your current level?"
"At the fastest, three years; at the slowest, nine years," Master Luo gave a precise answer.
"Huh???" Su Ziyang exclaimed.
"What do you mean 'oh'? If you practice hard, you'll definitely achieve something within three years."
Master Luo banged on his pipe.
"I'll give it a try, Master."
Su Ziyang sat up straight, relaxed, and gently inhaled through his nose. The air entered his lungs along his airway. Perhaps because of his previous practice of the Midnight-Noon Heaven and Earth Art, Su Ziyang subconsciously focused his energy into his dantian and then began to hold his breath.
123...
After silently counting to thirty-six, Su Ziyang realized that he seemed to be fine and could still endure it.
So Su Ziyang counted 36 more times.
After counting to 72, Su Ziyang felt a little suffocated, so he gently opened his mouth and slowly exhaled.
After three breaths, Su Ziyang felt his whole body begin to heat up, and the sweat that had just subsided slowly seeped out again, as if he had done a lot of exercise.
"Not bad." Master Luo looked at the talented student and gave him an affirmative nod.
From then on, Su Ziyang added a Qi Refining Method to his nightly cultivation routine.
Over the next few days, Master Luo told Su Ziyang many more details, including some scattered and unsystematic incantations, some of which were passed down from his master, and some of which Master Luo had learned from exchanges with fellow practitioners and friends over the years.
All the noise was crammed into Su Ziyang's head. Master Luo was right; during these seven days, Su Ziyang felt his memory was extraordinary. He could remember anything related to Zhuyou Technique.